Romans 1:1-7

Paul’s three descriptions of himself move from the General to the Specific: from “slave” of Christ Jesus”: one who is OWNED by Jesus, who will SERVE Jesus and whose Will BELONGS to Jesus; to “a called apostle,” one who is sent by authority with a commission; to “set apart for the gospel of God” as the specific focus of his calling. By declaring that he has been set apart for the gospel, Paul is laying the foundation for the very theme of this Letter. After all, the MAIN THEME of the Letter: is the good news that we are saved by grace apart from works.